Texas A&M basketball doesn’t just look different in 2026 - it feels different. Seven games into SEC play, the Aggies are starting to embody the identity Coach Bucky McMillan envisioned when he took the reins: a high-octane, high-pressure defense paired with an unselfish, motion-heavy offense that prioritizes the best shot over the first available one.
And now, it’s all coming together.
The Aggies are playing with a confidence and cohesion that’s hard to fake - and even harder to stop. That’s what happens when a veteran group fully buys into a system that demands effort, discipline, and trust.
The result? A team that’s not just winning games, but doing it in a way that suggests they’re built to last.
Their strong start in conference play has given Texas A&M something they haven’t had in a while: breathing room. If they can stay above .500 over the next five games, they’ll be in prime position to lock up a tournament-worthy résumé before the stretch run. That’s a luxury few SEC teams get to enjoy this time of year.
As for the top-25 chatter? That’ll take care of itself.
Rankings follow results - and right now, A&M is stacking the kind of performances that get noticed. Since that early stumble against SMU, the Aggies have tightened up, toughened up, and turned into a team that looks like it belongs in the postseason conversation.
Coach Bucky McMillan recently sat down on Aggie Hour to talk about where his team stands, what’s clicking, and what’s coming next. Here’s what he had to say - and there’s a lot to unpack.
On Back-to-Back Blowout Wins
“We’re getting better, we know that,” McMillan said. “It felt good to be able to relax in the last four minutes, and I’m sure our fans enjoyed not having to sweat it out. There won’t be many like that.”
Translation: Enjoy the blowouts while you can - they’re rare in the SEC. But the fact that Texas A&M is capable of putting teams away early says a lot about how far this group has come.
On Defensive Growth
“We’re the most improved team in the SEC,” McMillan said. “We’ve got the No. 1 defense in the SEC according to KenPom.
Our adaptability has helped us, and you can’t do that without connectivity. Our guys are rallying around that.”
That’s not just coach-speak - the numbers back it up. The Aggies’ defense is flying around, rotating with purpose, and making life miserable for opposing offenses. It’s a connected, switch-heavy unit that thrives on pressure and communication.
On the Road Ahead
“We know the gauntlet is coming up,” McMillan said. “We’ll have to play nearly perfect at Georgia.
They play similar to us. We’re going to have a lot of great tests coming up with a lot of new styles.
Our guys are ready for it.”
The SEC is no joke, and the next stretch will test A&M’s adaptability. Georgia plays fast, presses hard, and isn’t afraid to mix it up - a mirror image of the Aggies in some ways. It’s a proving ground for a team that’s trending up.
On His Coaching Staff
“We’ve got a great staff - most all have been head coaches. They’ve all won everywhere they’ve been.
We’ve got an elite staff with great chemistry. We’re very fortunate to get these guys together.”
It’s clear McMillan values experience and cohesion, not just on the court but on the bench. That kind of leadership trickles down, and it’s showing in how prepared and poised this team looks night in and night out.
On Raising the Program’s Ceiling
“Texas A&M basketball is a sleeping giant,” McMillan said. “A&M has been right there, they’ve gotten to the Sweet 16. We’re going to knock the door down in the second weekend, and then it’s going to become an expectation here.”
That’s a bold vision - and one that’s starting to feel within reach. If this team keeps building, the idea of A&M as a perennial second-weekend threat in March doesn’t sound far-fetched.
On the Reed Arena Atmosphere
“When we’re at Reed Arena and making our runs, our fans are in all of that,” McMillan said. “That was a problem for South Carolina. After we released that commercial about pressing, the crowd was going nuts for that first trap.”
The Aggies are feeding off their home crowd, and the fans are feeding off the team’s energy. It’s becoming a real home-court advantage - the kind that rattles opponents and fuels momentum swings.
On Offensive Identity
“I like players who aren’t just shooters - they’re makers,” McMillan said. “When Rubén Dominguez shoots and he misses, I’m shocked.
He’s a maker. How about Zach Clemence?
We want Zach to shoot it. It’s good to see him get going.”
That’s a coach who knows what he wants: confident, efficient scorers who don’t just take shots - they hit them. And right now, Dominguez and Clemence are doing exactly that.
On the 17 Threes Against South Carolina
“I just kept looking at Lamont Paris,” McMillan said. “He’s just looking around with his arms up.
Seventeen threes - I mean come on, man. That’s nuts.
Twelve threes in a half was the record in Reed Arena.”
When the Aggies are hot from deep, they’re almost impossible to guard. That kind of perimeter firepower stretches defenses and opens up the floor for everything else.
On Playing Undersized
“We’re the smallest P5 team in college basketball,” McMillan acknowledged. “You’ve got to find an advantage and play to that. When we get our bigs shooting well from three like Zach and Rashaun, it’s going to spread the floor even more.”
Size may be a disadvantage on paper, but A&M is flipping the script by stretching the floor and forcing mismatches. When your “bigs” can hit threes, it changes the geometry of the game.
On Rashaun Agee
“You don’t get to coach too many people in your life like Rashaun Agee,” McMillan said. “The player, heart, and personality.
He’s a magnetic dude and a soldier. He’s undersized in every game, but he’s tied for the most double-doubles in the SEC.”
That’s high praise - and well-earned. Agee is the kind of player who sets the tone with effort, toughness, and consistency. He’s undersized, but he plays like a giant.
On the NCAA Tournament Picture
“We’ve put ourselves in a position where we have the opportunity to be one of the names called on Selection Sunday,” McMillan said. “We can’t play not to lose. We have to play like we’re trying to win the SEC.”
That’s the mindset of a team that’s not just hoping to get in - they’re aiming to make noise once they do. There’s no playing it safe in this league, and McMillan knows it.
On Road Resilience
“We’re going to see adversity in these road games,” McMillan said. “You can’t allow that to snowball.
We may have some bad halves and games. How do you bounce back?
You need to be resilient to play your way through this league.”
The SEC grind is real, especially away from home. But this team is showing the kind of grit and bounce-back ability that travels - and that’s what separates contenders from pretenders.
On How Far They've Come
“On November 14th we lost to UCF at home,” McMillan recalled. “We have not been losing at the end of regulation since then.
That’s over two months. We lost two games in overtime.
We’re headed in the right direction.”
That’s not just improvement - that’s transformation. Since mid-November, A&M has found ways to stay in games, close them out, and build momentum.
On the Upcoming Georgia Matchup
“This will be a fun game to watch,” McMillan said. “Games are really fun when you have two teams who stick to what they do.
This will be an up and down game. They shoot it well, they pick up full court, they sub a lot.”
Circle this one. Georgia and A&M both want to press, run, and dictate tempo. It’s going to be a chess match played at 100 miles per hour - and a great measuring stick for where the Aggies stand.
The bottom line? Texas A&M is no longer just trying to find its identity - it’s living it.
And with each game, each trap, each made three, the Aggies are turning belief into results. The SEC gauntlet is coming, but this team looks ready to run through it.